"New kid. Check it out," Shaunee said as she took her seat around the bid table we claimed as ours for every meal served in the dining hall. I looked over to where Shaunee had motioned to as she sat down.
"Tragic, Twin, just tragic." Erin said her voice echoing Shaunee's.
"Thankfully, she's Sarah Freebird's roommate." Damien nodded toward the petite girl with dark black hair who was showing the lost-looking new kid around the dinning hall. Damien looked at both the girls looking at their outfits with his fashion radar. "Clearly her fashion sense is better than Sarah's, despite the stress of being marked and changing schools. Maybe she'll be able to help Sarah out with her unfortunate ugly shoe propensity."
"Damie," Shaunee said. "Again you are getting on my damn-"
"-last nerve with your unending vocab bullshit," Erin finished for Shaunee.
Damien put on an offended look and scoffed, "If your vocabulary wasn't so abysmal you wouldn't have to carry a dictionary around with you to keep up with me."
The Twins narrowed their eyes and sucked air to begin a new assault but then Annabeth piped up with her own vocabulary knowledge. "Propensity- an often intense natural preference. Abysmal- absolutely horrible."
"There. Now would y'all quit bickering and be nice?" Stevie Rae said looking at the Twins and Damien. "You know it's almost time for parent visitation, and we shouldn't be acting like retards when our folks show up."
"Ah crap," Zoey said with a groan. "I'd totally forgotten about parent visitation."
Damien then drooped his head to the table banging it not-so-gently. "I'd totally forgotten, too." We all gave them both a sympathetic look, I rubbed his back. No matter how many times I thought it over I couldn't process how his parents were okay with him getting marked- but not him being gay. Then there was Zoey whose parents were not okay with her being marked at all. Having a Smelly Gabe of her own as a step-dad.
"My 'rentals aren't coming. They came last month. This month they're too busy." Shaunee said matter of factly.
"Twin, once again we prove our Twin-ness," Erin said simply. "My 'rentals sent me an e-mail. They aren't coming either 'cause of some Thanksgiving cruise they decided to take to Alaska with my Aunt Alane and Uncle Liar Lloyd. Whatever." She said she unbothered her parents' absence.
"Hey, Damien, maybe your mama and daddy won't show either," Stevie Rae said with a kind smile.
He sighed and shook his head, "They'll be here. It's my birthday month. They'll bring presents."
"That doesn't sound so bad," Zoey said with a smile. "You were talking about needing a new sketch pad."
"They won't get me a sketch pad," he said and gave Zoey a sad smile. "Last year I asked for an easel. They got me camping supplies and a subscription to Sports Illustrated."
"Eeesh!" said the Twin and Annabeth as the rest of us wrinkled our noises and made similar noises.
Clearly wanting to change the subject, Damien turned to me, Nico, Will, Annaneth, and Zoey. "This'll be your parents' first visit. What're you expecting?"
"A warm hug and blue chocolate chip cookies." I said which The Twins, Stevie Rae, and Zoey cooed at. Damien smiled and nodded.
"A warm hug from Sally, my dad is caught up teaching at West Point." Annabeth said with a smile.
"A no show. My mom is too busy- plus she didn't want to make a scene." Will said then he cleared his throat, "Plus my dad has been busy dealing with things..."
"No show…" Nico said and everyone looked at him with sympathy.
"Nightmare, total, absolute, and complete nightmare." Zoey said and I gave her a reassuring smile.
"Zoey? I thought I'd bring my new roommate over to meet you. Diana, this is Zoey Redbird- the leader of the Dark Daughters." Sarah said, popping into our parental conversation.
"Wow, it's really true!" the new girl blurted before I could even say hi. As usual she was staring at my forehead and blushing bright red. "I mean, uh… sorry. I didn't mean to be rude or anything…" sha trailed off, looking miserable.
"That's okay. Yeah, it is true. My mark is filled in and added to." Zoey said, keeping her smile- so I decided to interject.
"Yeah, Z-bird here got the cool lacey spiral tattoo when she saved her ex-boyfriend from some ancient vampyre spirits." I said then stuck my hand out. "I'm Percy Blofis."
Diana shook my hand then blushed, "That's what Sarah told me. It just sounded so unbelievable that, well, I uh…"
"Didn't believe it?" Damien said helpfully.
"Yeah, I'm sorry," She repeated and started to fidget with her hands.
"Hey don't worry about it." Zoey said with a fairley authentic smile. "It seems pretty bizarre to me sometimes, and I was there."
"And kicking butt," Stevie Rae interjected.
Zoey gave Stevie Rae her signature you-are-so-not-helping-me look. She may be training to be a High Prestige but she's not the boss of her best friends.I held back a chuckle at Stevie Rae just flat out ignoring Zoey's look.
"Anyway, this whole place can seem pretty strange at first. It gets better," Zoey told Diana.
"Thanks," Diana said with so much warmth in her words.
"Well, we better go so I can show Diana to where her fifth hour class will be," Sarah said and then goot serious by saluting Zoey with the traditional vampyre sign of respect. Closed fist over the heart and bowed head.
Zoey huffed once they both left, "I really hate when they do that," She muttered stabbing her salad.
"I think it's nice," Stevie Rae said sweetly.
"You deserve to be shown respect," Damien said in his school teacher voice. "You're the only third former ever to have been made leader of the Dark Daughters and the only fledgling or vampyre in history who has shown an affinity for all five of the elements."
"Face it, Z," Shaunee said gesturing with her fork to Zoey.
"You're special." Erin continued smiling.
I sighed at the Twins shaking my head and looked back at Zoey who shook her head as well. I chuckled a bit then took a stab at my salad, "Speaking of the Dark Daughters, have you decided what you want the new requirements for membership to be?"
Zoey shook her head and sighed, "No, I don't know what the new requirements should be. Actually, I was hoping you guys would help me. So, do you have any ideas?"
I smiled at her with an understanding smile and Annabeth spoke up, "No on hand- but I'm sure we can come up with a thing or two." She said with a smile.
Will nodded and looked at Zoey, "Maybe we could study some private academy's honor society codes?"
That's when Shaunee looked up, "You know, Kent has their honor society code on their website."
As Zoey was about to say something the P.A system came on. "Students and professors, please make your way to the reception hall. It is now time for this month's parent visits."
We made our way to the reception hall. I looked around and sighed, Nico and Will decided to just stay in their dorm room. I didn't see my mom or Annabeth's dad so we stook around with Stevie Rae, Zoey, and Damien. I was about to comment on the food that was laid out when I heard a big okie accent call out, "Stevie Rae! Stevie Rae! Ohmygosh! I have missed you!"
"Mama!" Stevie Rae cried and I smiled a bit pretending to not notice the group of people.
Damien then sighed before he spoke, "Well, there're my parents. Might as well get this over with. See ya."
"See ya- hey make sure you hurry my mom wants to meet you." I said and Damien smiled.
"Sure thing- I'll look for Zoë." Damien said before heading over to two people with a present. Zoey gave Damien a quick hug and I noticed how his dad looked so disappointed in Damien and frowned. I also noticed how stressed Damien looked, I wanted nothing more than to walk over there with him.
Me, Annabeth, and Zoey walked over to the long table that held all the food. Expensive cheese, meat platters, desserts, coffee, tea, and wine. Wine in school seems absurd I know but you see all the House of Nights are modeled after the European House of Nights. Apparently, in Europe wine with meals is like tea or Coke with meals here- then there is also the fact that vampyres can not get drunk and fledglings can barely get buzzed. So wine is no big deal here.
As I picked up a couple pieces of cheese and then jumped when I heard Stevie Rae coming this way, "Mama! You have to meet my roommate. Remember I told you about her? This is Zoey Redbird. Zoey this is my mama."
Zoey turned around and smiled, "Hi, Mrs. Johnson. It's good to meet you," She said politely and I smiled as I watched.
"Oh, Zoey! It is just so nice to meet you! And, oh my! Your mark is as pretty as Stevie Rae said it was." Stevie Rae's mom said then hugged her in a mom hug. I smiled then looked around the room seeing if I could see my mom.
Then I saw her, her blue eyes scanning the room and lit up when she saw me. I quickly ran over to her and brought me into a big mama bear hug. I chucked but felt my cheeks were a bit wet. She then let go and held my face in her hands with a smile and teary eyes. "Oh Percy it's so good to see you."
"It's good to see you too." I said, overwhelmed with happiness from seeing her after everything that has happened. My mom wiped the tears from my face then smiled when she saw Annabeth. She moved over and hugged Annabeth as well.
"It's good to see you both in one peice. You're taking care of Percy right?" My mom asked Annabeth and Annabeth chuckled and nodded.
Then I felt a tap on my shoulder and saw Stevie Rae smiling and her mom smiling as well. "Percy, Annabeth I wanted to introduce you to my mom, Mama this is Percy Blofis and Annabeth Chase."
"Nice to meet you Mrs. Johnson," I said smiling and Stevie Rae's mom brought me into a hug and I chuckled.
"Stevie Rae has told me so much about all her friends." Mrs. Johnson said then let go. "I'm so happy Stevie Rae has so many good friends to count on." Then she hugged Annabeth and Annabeth smiled.
"I'm really happy to be one of Stevie Rae's friends." Annabeth said chuckling as she hasn't stopped smiling.
I then looked to my mom smiling and said, "Mom, this is Stevie Rae, Zoey's roommate- and the one who came up with the plan that led us to help Zoey."
My mom then smiled and put her arms out, "Do you mind if I hug you?" SHe asked Stevie Rae and Stevie Rae just hugged her back. My mom chuckled and then she smiled at Stevie Rae, "I'm so glad Percy and Annabeth have such great friends here, just as they did back home."
Then it moved to Stevie Rae's mom and my mom talking and bonding about loving their kids. We all stayed by the food table and I saw Damien walking over holding a clothing box. He had a face that told me his present wasn't the best thing.
"Hey, how did it go?" I asked him which caused Stevie Rae's mom and my mom to look over concerned.
"It went better than expected. They got me some interesting button down shirts." Damien said and sighed clearly relieved that he was out of that situation.
"Well, on the brightside," I said quickly, bringing Damien closer to my mom. "Damien this is my mom. Mom this is Damien- I probably wouldn't be getting through my classes without him." I said and my mom smiled.
She brought him in for a mom hug and Damien hugged her back. I knew for a fact she was adopting him. Damien stayed in my mom's hug and when she let go Damien had a smile and his eyes were a bit watery.
"Wow, you do give good hugs." Damien said which caused everyone to chuckle then Stevie Rae's mom gave him a hug as well.
I smiled feeling good about everything and then I looked at my mom, "So, this is a weird priority-" I started to say but my mom cut me off.
"Yes, I did bring you and your friends some of my blue chocolate chip cookies." She said and I had a big smile on my face.
Stevie Rae's mom looked like she was just hit with something, "Oh that reminds me, I brought some of my own chocolate chip cookies." She then looked at the group, "I need to head out to my car to grab them, Stevie Rae do you want to come?"
Stevie Rae nodded and my mother chuckled. "I have to go out to the car as well."
"Then let's make it an adventure." Damien said and we all laughed a bit. Stevie Rae and her mom walked to the door to get to get to the parking lot and we followed. My mom talked with Stevie Rae's mom talking about me and Stevie Rae. I couldn't help but feel happy.
When we got out to the parking lot and we were at my mom's rental car me and Annabeth helped her get out all five cookie tins. Me and Annabeth held two while my mom held the final one. Damien, Stevie Rae, and Mrs. Johnson were in the same situation we are and we smiled. We all then walked back to the school and noticed everyone was filling out. I sighed realizing how close it was to the end.
Me, and Damien took an extra cookie tin and we walked back into the reception hall. I felt warm inside as we carried cookies for the Nerd Herd. I then stopped when I saw Dragon walking this way.
"Hello, I am Professor Dragon Lankford, You must be Percy's mother. I am his mentor here at the house of night." He said sticking his hand out to my mom who smiled and shook his forearm. I could tell that surprised Dragon- because he chuckled and smiled. "I see you've done your research. I just wanted to tell you what a bright young man your son is." He then looked at me with a knowing smile. "I truly believe he'll be a fantastic Vampyre Warrior."
My mom smiled and then chuckled, "I am glad my son has someone like you to help guide him through this. It is really comforting for me." My mother said and Dragon bowed his head to her before continuing on his way.
My mother looked at her watch then sighed. "You make sure you get these to your friends- and save some for Damien." She then smiled, "I promised your step-father I would give you this." She said, going into her purse and taking out a box. "It's his old watch. He claims it has brought him nothing but good luck. Stay safe Percy, now I am afraid I need to get to the hotel so I can make sure Estelle hasn't driven Paul mad."
She kissed me on the forehead then walked back out the doors again. I didn't realize it at first but Stevie Rae's mom also said goodbye to Stevie Rae and left as well. I sighed and so did Stevie Rae and we all chuckled a bit. We all then walked back into the school because we had some cookies to deliver.